Former Portland Trail Blazers coach Nate McMillan has reportedly emerged as a prime candidate for the Los Angeles Clippers' coaching vacancy after the firing of Vinny Del Negro. With management hoping to appease soon-to-be free agent Chris Paul as he decides where to sign his next contract, finding a coach that works well with the point guard will be key. Since being fired by Portland in 2012, McMillan hasn't coached in the NBA, but he's been considered a candidate for numerous openings, including the current ones in Atlanta, Milwaukee and Detroit. It's easy to imagine the Clippers job being the most appealing to McMillan should the team make him an offer, though, given the strength of the team's roster. Assuming Paul returns, which is likely if he's involved in the coach hiring process, the Clippers should have one of the most talented rosters in the game.

Los Angeles Times

Very disappointed that he's the "prime" candidate. There are a lot of better options out there. I want a coach that has a history of coaching an all-star PG.

He has none so for the clippers to be considering him is mind bothering

smittywerb

05/22/2013 - 02:37 PM PST

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Nate is a marginal upgrade. Shouldn't be a prime candidate at this stage of the game when there are better options out there.

FightOnRon

05/22/2013 - 02:45 PM PST

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INSIDER update for today:

UPDATE: A new name has emerged in the Los Angeles Clippers' search for a new head coach.

Broderick Turner of the Los Angeles Times reports this morning that Nate McMillan is a potential candidate, per several NBA executives. McMillan previously served as head coach in Seattle and Portland, and is currently being considered for the openings in Milwaukee, Detroit and Atlanta. McMillan joins Memphis coach Lionel Hollins, former Orlando coach Stan Van Gundy, former Pistons/Suns coach Alvin Gentry, Golden State assistant Mike Malone and ex-Cavs/Hornets/Nets coach Byron Scott as the top candidates being mentioned for the Clippers job.

clipstar

05/22/2013 - 03:08 PM PST

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Grillinnap wrote:

Diamond909 wrote:

Former Portland Trail Blazers coach Nate McMillan has reportedly emerged as a prime candidate for the Los Angeles Clippers' coaching vacancy after the firing of Vinny Del Negro. With management hoping to appease soon-to-be free agent Chris Paul as he decides where to sign his next contract, finding a coach that works well with the point guard will be key. Since being fired by Portland in 2012, McMillan hasn't coached in the NBA, but he's been considered a candidate for numerous openings, including the current ones in Atlanta, Milwaukee and Detroit. It's easy to imagine the Clippers job being the most appealing to McMillan should the team make him an offer, though, given the strength of the team's roster. Assuming Paul returns, which is likely if he's involved in the coach hiring process, the Clippers should have one of the most talented rosters in the game.

Los Angeles Times

Very disappointed that he's the "prime" candidate. There are a lot of better options out there. I want a coach that has a history of coaching an all-star PG.

I'm all for a coach with a history of coaching an all-star PG but who is this said coach? From the list , there's hardly anyone that I think would be a perfect fit. They are either too old, not interested in coaching, coaching elsewhere, or not experienced enough. No matter who we pick, someone on this board is gonna have a problem with him "fitting in"...

Are we looking for a coach who can set plays who CP3 can execute to perfection or someone who can guide Blake to being a more complete power forward we all want him to be? More offensive plays or an elite defense? I mean what really makes a coach be a great fit for this team?

BoomRizzle

05/22/2013 - 03:13 PM PST

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Simers said on the phone interview that he too thinks Nate McMillan is the top canidate.

CP3Heliflopter

05/22/2013 - 03:48 PM PST

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Yuck Nate is a marginal upgrade over VDN at best. I hope we don't get him. He is terrible. Defensive minded coach that hasn't even coached a good defense. Terrible regular season and playoff record. Known PG killer as well. Not very good with X and Os and very uncreative on the offensive end.

sfernald

05/22/2013 - 06:31 PM PST

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Great articles on best coaching fits for clippers. I hope some of these guys get interviews. Jerry Sloan ranked #2.
http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/9299462/best-fits-coach-los- angeles-clippers
Best fits for the Clippers job
Del Negro Out As Clippers Coach
There's usually a common thread when it comes to evaluating the most inept operations in sports. When you think of failed franchises in our professional leagues, you think of chaos: constant turnover, bad trades, poor draft picks, etc.
But there is typically one source of continuity, and it's at the very top. Since Donald Sterling purchased the Clippers in the early '80s, his franchise has enjoyed four winning seasons in more than....

McMillan has never coached a good defense, he coached a #1 offense, but his teams have been average at best defensively, and none as good as the Clippers last season. What in the world is he going to teach Blake and DJ on defense?

Diamond909

05/22/2013 - 07:31 PM PST

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^ honestly, I DONT see him teaching them nothing

Clipperfn4lf

05/22/2013 - 08:36 PM PST

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IMO it would be better to hire a coach CP3 isn't best friends with and all lovey dove. Get some1 who takes him out of his comfort zone and treats him like he is one of the guys.

LuvMeSumMEE

05/22/2013 - 08:46 PM PST

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Lionel Hollins' adjustments don't impress me. I'm not sold unless Memphis comes back and beats San Antonio this series. You can't see what kind of a coach Hollins is against the Clippers. Just put your solid on-ball defenders in Tony Allen, T Prince, and Quincy Pondexter on CP3 and Jamal Crawford.......pack the paint and force the Clipper front court to shoot outside......and pound the ball against their undisciplined post defenders, and whalaah! The Clippers are rendered defenseless. Then just put your ENTIRE TEAM on Durant and OKC is worthless. But then they play the Spurs.......who actually move the ball and make people defend more than one player at a time.......and surprise suprise......they're getting there asses kicked. No on Hollins...

I like Kelvin Sampson though. I used to love watching his OU teams. Sampson always seemed to have long, rangy guys on the floor that scrambled n' rotated well, help defend, always taking away passing lanes, block shots, and force tough shots. I'd be happy with Kelvin Sampson at the helm. That's who I'm hoping for, but I'm also hoping for an assistant coach that can make the Clipper bigs play better offensively in the post

david

05/22/2013 - 11:30 PM PST

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What I find interesting is how no Clipper has tweeted any sort of response on the VDN decision. Then I thought oh hey maybe these guys are on a break or something- nope- I see Ralph Lawler, Jamal, Barnes, CP3, Bledsoe, Jordan, Butler & Hollins tweeting. Blake Griffin just tweeted:

"Very glad to see Coach K come back for another run at the Olympics. Would love to be apart of a world championship and a gold medal! #legend"

Maybe Blake wants to add Mike Krzyzewski to the list of candidates for the next Clipper coach?

Diamond909

05/23/2013 - 12:43 AM PST

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k as the next coach not happening.... hes gone stay a winning coach in college and a good coach with allstars in the Olympic but to go nba would really test his skills because he wont just have allstars on one roster

Grillinnap

05/23/2013 - 01:16 AM PST

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So you do see him teaching something?

LuvMeSumMEE

05/23/2013 - 02:32 AM PST

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What's good with Kelvin Sampson?!!

He'll be like, "YES!! CUBAN BEEEEE!!!!"

lobcityhawaii

05/23/2013 - 05:13 AM PST

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Yeah I found that interesting also that no one tweeted about vinny. You would think someone would mention, "good luck" or something to that effect.

Diamond909

05/23/2013 - 07:11 AM PST

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Grillinnap wrote:

Diamond909 wrote:

^ honestly, I DONT see him teaching them nothing

So you do see him teaching something?

No. Nate is just another vinny just to me

Clippers_FTW

05/23/2013 - 07:30 AM PST

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Im sorry???? So you see him teaching them something?

Diamond909

05/23/2013 - 06:14 PM PST

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^ maybe to dislike him lol but I really dont know what nate can do that vinny all ready tried. If he can reached bg and dj that would be great but who knows

Diamond909

05/23/2013 - 06:16 PM PST

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Nate just seem mediocre

ClipperDB

05/23/2013 - 06:18 PM PST

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Yes, we have no bananas today.

Diamond909

05/23/2013 - 06:28 PM PST

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^ excuse me?

Grillinnap

05/23/2013 - 06:34 PM PST

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Your double negative is being mocked, Diamind.

ClipperSean

05/23/2013 - 06:38 PM PST

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Good observation David. Makes me even more comfortable with the teams decision to let him go. Lack of tweets is just more evidence that he lost the locker room (that's if he ever even had it, that is).

Diamond909

05/23/2013 - 06:50 PM PST

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Yes im aware of that smh,

ClipperSam

05/23/2013 - 10:36 PM PST

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Finaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaallllllllllyyyyyyyyyy!

I am the most happy clipper fan on the Planet!

Was on a trip! Couldn't believe my eyes!

I

Couldn't bare watching the Clippers anymore lead by Vinny and his foolish idea that he was coaching!

I wish it would of happened last year! I knew the season was going to be wasted! We could of already had a new coach and playing the new system that group will have to learn. Typically takes 1 season. That's why I was hoping it would happen last season. Will better late than never! Just hoping we hire a new coach that is actually a coach! I feel sorry for the next team to hire Vinny! Hopefully the heat fire Spolestra and hire Vinny so they can lose not 3, not 4 not 5 and not 6 lost titles. Probably they would get knocked out in the 2nd round. Truly a horrible coach.

No one is more excited or happier than me as a huge Clipper Fan!

Just like I said last year the players don't even like him or respect him. Not one player tweeted him. Even Byron Scott was contacted by kyrie. Truly shows what they really wanted!

DTS should have known last year! But I guess better late than never! Thank U!!!

I am such a happy fan again!

Good bye and good riddance'

Finally!!!!!

Seriously know one is happier than me again. Maybe finally we can talk Clippers and not about firing the coach!

The ones I would love to have coach if possible

1) Phil

2) Jerry Sloan

3) Marc Jackson

Next Choices

1) Jeff Van Gundy

2) Nate Mc Millan

3) Byron Scott

4) Larry Brown

Next group don't mind taking a chance and seeing

1) Mike budenzor SA

2) Brian Shaw

3) Mike Malone

4) Bill Lambier

5) Michael Cooper

6) Sam Cassell

7) Gary Payton

8) Larry Drew

9) Kelvin Sampson

Coaches I do no want to see and would be asking to probably fire them!

Did not realize that the only way to contact a coach and thank him is by twitter..

Not saying they did or not but to solely base it off of what a player said or didn't say over twitter is completely ludacris.. Vinny should not have been let go last year, he deserved to coach this same team this year..

As far as the decision to let him go this year was justified.. He didn't get the job done and needed to be let go. Cant wait until everybody starts to crucify the next coach we get..

LuvMeSumMEE

05/23/2013 - 11:03 PM PST

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Don't worry, they will...

ClipperSam

05/23/2013 - 11:21 PM PST

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Steady818 wrote:

ClipperSam wrote:

No one is more excited or happier than me as a huge Clipper Fan!

Just like I said last year the players don't even like him or respect him. Not one player tweeted him. Even Byron Scott was contacted by kyrie. Truly shows what they really wanted!

Did not realize that the only way to contact a coach and thank him is by twitter..

Not saying they did or not but to solely base it off of what a player said or didn't say over twitter is completely ludacris.. Vinny should not have been let go last year, he deserved to coach this same team this year..

As far as the decision to let him go this year was justified.. He didn't get the job done and needed to be let go. Cant wait until everybody starts to crucify the next coach we get..

Vinny Should have been fired after year 1. Year 2 for sure! Year 3 was a gift by DTS!

Kyrie actually called Coach Scott and let the media know. Not one Clipper has publicly said anything. I have not known very many coaches who were not at least publicly thanked in any format!

ClipperSam

05/23/2013 - 11:24 PM PST

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^ as far as the next coach don't hire any of my bottom 7! The rest should be fine other than the 7 I will be a happy camper. The ones with no experience I will give them the season because of the unknowns!

In reality even the bottom 7 are better than VDN!

So I am super happy!!!!

tense2

05/23/2013 - 11:30 PM PST

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clipper*joe

05/23/2013 - 11:34 PM PST

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clipper*joe

05/23/2013 - 11:50 PM PST

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What up with your sig? It makes no sense on any level

Here's hoping VDN would go coach the Fakers!!! That would solve a huge problem for the Clips!!!

First of all, the Lakers are NOT a huge problem or haven't you watched your "other" team you're a fan of? Second of all, VDN would probably improve the Lakers based on what Antoni did with the highest payroll in the league this season. Lastly, based on reports, Howard would probably sign with your other team if he finds out Antoni was replaced.

Oh, and Shelburne reported that the Lakers Players were very close to a Mutiny against Mike D'Antoni.

The Lakers fans would rejoice if they had VDN. lol

bullterrierclipsfan1349

05/24/2013 - 12:20 AM PST

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clipper sam, marc jackson??? lol. ok. if we SVG, i guess we will have to see and ask why u hate him so much. haha

Diamond909

05/24/2013 - 12:20 AM PST

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^ vinny with the lakers lol itll be payback time. Vinny: ill show you cp3 I thought we were cool (dude) and you Sterling I thought we were brothers. Well i have Nash old behind and howard plus kobe so I Dont Need Ya'll.